Safety portable boat



March 11 1924. I 11,4s@,@@@

' M. PIMPINELLA SAFETY PORTABLE BOAT I Filed May 21. 1923 Patented Mar. ll, 1924.

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MARIANO PIM?INELLA, 0F AMBLER, PENNSYLVANIA.

SAFETY PORTABLE BOAT.

Application filed May 21, 1923. Serial No. 640,292.

To (1]! 10/2001 2'1 may concern:

Be it known that I, Mnnmxo Pnrrmnmni, a subject of the King of Italy, residing at Ambler, in the county of Montgomery and. State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Portable Boats, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to boats, having more particular reference to small boats for private use on inland waters, the invention being capable of embodiment either in manually propelled, or power driven boats.

The invention has for an object the provision of a novel type of knock down or portable boat, which can be readily separated into sections for convenience in transportation, a further object relating to the provision of a novel balancing means.

For further comprehension of the invention andof the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings. and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

Fig. 1 of the drawings is a side view of a boat having the invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and showing particularly the balancing float and the means for swinging it down to operative position.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of this float swinging means.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view showing ameans for securing the hull sections to gether.

As here shown my improved boat has its hull divided into a front section 10, and intermediate section 11, and a rear section 12. These sections present transverse partition elements such as 13 at their abutting ends so that each section forms aseparate water tight compartn'ient and not being dependent on its connection with the other section to prevent ingress of water. The respective sections may be suitably joined together by means permitting of ready dctachment. As shown in Fig. I may provide bolts such as 15 which are fixed in the transverse partition of one section and project through suitable openings in the adjacent partition of the other section and have nuts such as 16 threaded on their ends,

rubber washers such as 17 being interposed to prevent leakage. The for "aid and intcrn'iediatc sections may have rearwardly projecting flange elements such as 18 which engage over the forward edges of the intermediate and rear sections respectively.

The intermediate section may be formed with the usual cockpit 20 for accommodation of the passengers. I have here shown the invention as applied to a motor boat provided with a small motor 21 which drives a propeller 22. these parts being carried by the intermediate section 11. It will be understood of course that the invention can be also applied to a rowboat.

To assist in balancing the boat I provide a pair of balancing floats which are in the form of elongated chambered members having curved undersides to engage the water. These floats are hinged to the sides of the section 11 as indicated at 26, the hinge pintles being readily removable, and they remain normally in the raised position clear of the water indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3. being held in this position by means of springs such as 28 coiled around the hinge pintles of the floats and bearing at one end on the latter and on the opposite. end. on the side of the boat.

I preferably provide means whereby these tloats can be readily swung down to engage the water. and this means comprises for each float longitudinally expansible thrust bar which is connected at one end to the section 11 and at its other end tothe float near the outer side of the latter. This thrust bar comprises a series of tubular sections 30 which telescope one into the other and are provided with cooperating flange elements 31 to prevent dis ilaccment from each other. one end section being pivotally connected to a bracket 32 removably bolted to the float. The other end section in the form of a T-member 30 whose crosspiece is pivotally engaged in a bracket 3% fixed to the side of the boat section 11. Leading through one side of this bracket and into the T-member 30, is a passage 33 to the outer end of which a short length of flexible tubing 36 is removahly connected this tubing leading from a pipe 3'7. lea-ding in turn from a tank 38 which contains comprcssei'l air. Upon the pipe is a valve 39 provided with a hand lever 4-0 for quick operation.

In the event of the boat tilting dangerill) ously to one side, the operator opens the valve l0 on that side, allowing the air to flow from the tank 38 into the thrust bar 30 and cause the latter to expand, swinging the float down to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3 in which it engages the water. Leading from the T-head through the bracket 34 is a minute passage l2 which allows of gradual escape of the air so that the float automatically rises slowly to its elevated position. This passage may be closed when desired by a screw plug =13.

As will be apparent, I have provided a novel and improved type of boat which is convenient for transportation when necessary and which affords adequate safety without the need of being made of any greatwidth of beam.

Having thus described my invention, what- I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. In a' boat, a float hinged to the side thereof, means normally holding said float above the water level and means for swing ing said float downward to engage the water, said last means comprising a longitudinally expansible thrust bar, consisting of a number of telescopic tubular sections, and means for supplying compressed air to the interior of said thrust bar.

In a boat, a float hinged to the side thereof, means normally holding said float above the water level and means for swinging said float downward to engage the water, said last means comprising a longitudinally expansible thrust bar, consisting of a num ber of telescopic tubular sections, and means for supplying compressed air to the interior of said thrust bar, the upper end of said bar being in the form of a T-head, a bracket fixed to the side of the boat in which said T-head is pivoted, saidbracket having a passage formed therein for the introduction of air to the said expansible bar, and a pipe leading from a supply of compressed air and connected to said passage.

In a boat, a float hinged to the side thereof, means normally holding said float above the water level and means for swing ing said float downward to engage the water, said last means comprising a longitudinally expansible thrust bar, consisting of a number of telescopic tubular sec tions, and means for supplying compressed air to the interior of said thrust bar, a spring normally urging said float upward, and means providing a minute vent from said thrust bar to permit of the float gradually moving upward under the influence of said spring. 7

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

MARIANO PIHPINELLA. 

